The ScareFest Road Trip is a convention for horror and paranormal enthusiasts. About 40 vendors were scattered on the center’s main floor. People also had the chance to meet some horror celebrities.

Meanwhile, the Folk Fest downstairs featured about two dozen arts-and-crafts vendors, including Keylon. The show also featured square dancing Saturday and clogging Sunday.

Oaks said people who may not ordinarily come to the convention center visited this weekend.

“One of the things we’re always trying to do is hit as many different demographics and interests in the community as we can,” he said. “Anytime we can add something like a Folk Fest or something upstairs like the ScareFest, both are unique genres that maybe the convention center hasn’t touched before.”

Keylon had his vertical loom, which stands over 6 feet tall, in the downstairs conference room. He said he’s set up a booth before at Third Thursdays at Vinegar Hill Mall and a few other events, but the Folk Fest was the biggest show he’s been a part of.

He bought the loom for his wife about a year ago, but he said he hijacked it.

“It’s become a little bit more than a hobby,” Keylon joked.

The national not-for-profit organization Project Linus had a booth set up downstairs Saturday and Sunday where people could sew together a patch for a quilt.

Mary Balagna, national vice president and central Illinois chapter coordinator for the project, said the patches will be used to make quilts for seriously ill and traumatized children across the area.

The organization supplies about 500 blankets every month across central Illinois, including Springfield, Decatur and Champaign, she said.

“Unfortunately, we have a pretty big need in this area and serve a lot of children,” Balagna said.

Project Linus is named after the character in the Charles Schulz cartoon “Peanuts” who carries around a blanket.

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